A Sydney woman was subjected to "gratuitous, prolonged and relentless violence" from her cousin before she fatally stabbed her in self-defence, a jury has been told.
Katherine Abdallah had produced two knives "purely as a defensive pose, a defensive stance", her barrister Gregory Stanton said in the defence's final address in the NSW Supreme Court on Thursday.
Abdallah, 37, has pleaded not guilty, on the grounds of self-defence, to the manslaughter of Suzie Sarkis, 21, at the older woman's Brighton-Le-Sands townhouse on February 9, 2013.
The prosecution contends the stabbing wasn't done in self-defence but was a continuation of a series of violent acts by Abdallah that day after she became angry at her cousin for using her new Mercedes.
The jury has been shown CCTV footage, without sound, from inside the townhouse depicting prolonged arguments between the pair.
Mr Stanton replayed footage to the jury and described various scenes including Ms Sarkis kicking and punching at a shut door, throwing and shattering a vase and throwing papers all over the floor.
If Ms Sarkis was fearful for her safety, as the crown submitted, Mr Stanton asked why she did not leave, noting her easy access to the front door.
He describes Ms Sarkis running towards her cousin, successfully tackling her to the couch and delivering a "series of rabbit killer" punches to the back of her neck.
The younger woman picks up a phone, brandishing it above her head and appears to be arming herself with a "potential weapon", he said.
Her behaviour was "unprovoked, ferocious, prolonged, protracted and somewhat relentless".
She hurls her cousin's mobile phone, continuing her gratuitous and relentless violent behaviour, he said.
Abdallah uses a four-pack of drink bottles to strike her cousin.
"Did it prevent, deter, stop the deceased from her rage of violence?" he asks, saying Ms Sarkis then chases her cousin to the kitchen.
He said the prosecution claimed Abdallah then deliberately took two knives from the knife-block and plunged one deep into her cousin's chest.
But Mr Stanton said she armed herself with the knives and assumes a defensive stance, "saying - through the use of the knives - keep away" before Ms Sarkis continues to move forward.
Far from being a "deliberate plunging of the knife", Mr Stanton said "with the greatest respect" that "you need to look very closely to see the stabbing take place".
The trial continues.
AAP
